Auditions for February Workshop of original Kaufman / Hart MERRILY WE ROLL ALONG!

MERRILY WE ROLL ALONG (excerpts)
By Kaufman and Hart
Script edits and Direction by Lin Snider

AUDITIONS
October 27, 2024 2:00 – 4:00 pm
Elmwood Playhouse
CALLBACKS – TBA (by invitation only)

CAST REQUIREMENTS: (3 male identifying, 3 female identifying)
Descriptions below are of the progression of each character in the full version of the play – this workshop excludes some internal scenes. Some actors will portray more than one role; all must be able to portray the changing ages and stages of the characters’ lives in backward chronological order.
ACTOR 1 – Male presenting.
RICHARD NILES – Ages 18 – 40 . At 40 in 1934. Richard is the layman’s idea of what a fashionable playwright should look like. He is miserably married to Althea (his second wife) and having an affair with Ivy, his latest young star. His life is empty, petty and loveless. Through the play he has gradually turned away from his moral compass, friends, his first wife and son, and joyful spirit to become a rich and famous playwright. We last see him in 1916 at age 22 graduating from college, an idealistic, hopeful, sincere young man.

ACTOR 2 – Male presenting.
JONATHAN CRALE – Ages 22 – 31. Best friend of Richard in college, he becomes the opposite of
Richard and discards Richard as a friend as he increasingly disapproves of Richard’s selfish and
frivolous choices in life. He loses his engaging personality as his portrait painting career fails and
becomes stagnant, bitter and gives the appearance of being indifferent to his fate as he ages.

ACTOR 3 – Female presenting.
JULIA GLENN – Ages 28 – 40. She was a joyful, fun-loving, creative, hopeful young writer who has
deteriorated into a loud-mouthed, bitter alcoholic because of her career challenges and failures, and
Richard’s rejections of her love for him as he ascends the heights.

ACTOR 4 – Female presenting.
LAURA NASH – Age 40. Rich, snobby wife of another successful, rich friend of Richard’s.
MRS. MURNEY – Age mid-50s Helen’s mother. In 1922 she tries to defend Richard but also wants the
best for her daughter.

ACTOR 5 – Male presenting
ALBERT OGDEN – Ages 31-40. A big-time, successful Broadway play producer by age 30. He has
been a friend of Richard’s since college and has helped Richard get to the top by producing his plays.
MR. MURNEY – Age mid-50s. Helen’s father. In 1922 he is tired of taking care of Helen’s family while
Richard lounges around “writing plays”.

ACTOR 6 – Female presenting

ALTHEA ROYCE – Age 40. Richard’s second wife. Actress from “shanty Irish” roots who gave Richard
his first connections to big Broadway producers when she was in her mid-20s and already a star.
Richard had an affair with her when she starred in his first Broadway show and ultimately married her.
They are by the age of 40 very unhappily married but she refuses to set him free in spite of his
continued infidelities.
HELEN NILES – Age 25. Richard’s first wife. In 1922 after four years of marriage, which began happily
but quickly deteriorated because of Richard’s refusal to sell his soul to Broadway, she is furious that
Richard makes no money writing only “intellectual” plays. The young family lives with her parents who
barely support them all. She files for divorce in 1924.

INSTRUCTIONS:

** PLEASE ARRIVE 10 MINUTES BEFORE YOUR SCHEDULED AUDITION.
** PLEASE BRING YOUR PICTURE AND RESUME
** PLEASE BE PREPARED TO COMPLETE THE TWO FORMS ATTACHED
MERRILY AUDITIONEES FORM https://docs.google.com/document/d/1_ZRZGVl4uI0Q4Id4-rZLiKqirz–6PpRYO5wrYm2XkI/edit?usp=sharing

MERRILY REHEARSAL AVAILABILITIES
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1h2p6qkJAz8xsxkoWO85gDkTQD9qMTqJx5-6vPPNoDTI/edit

SIDES USED FOR THE AUDITION ARE AVAILABLE AT https://docs.google.com/document/d/1vADUn76SuMty_QWfvW4H5hPFIeN_hCtoFjwqpJro6FY/edit?usp=sharing. YOU MAY BE ASKED TO READ WITH OTHER AUDITIONEES.

PLEASE CONTACT THE DIRECTOR IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN AUDITIONING BUT CANNOT MAKE THE SCHEDULED TIMES AT LIN.SNIDER@VERIZON.NET AND WE’LL TRY TO FIND ANOTHER TIME!
All roles available. Casting is open to all ethnicities and races. Newcomers are especially welcome. Crew and other volunteers are also needed for the event . Visit https://www.elmwoodplayhouse.com/covid19 to read Elmwood Theater’s current COVID policies and safety measures. For more information or directions, call 845-353-1313 or visit https://www.elmwoodplayhouse.com/auditions

The director of the workshop would like to have the first read in early November, minimal rehearsals (zoom?) over the holidays and resume with in-person rehearsals in January. The workshop will be performed following the membership meeting on February 3.